Allie POV By the time we slowed to cross a stream, the sun was up to signal the start of a new day. We stopped by the water for a bathroom and drink break, and managed to find a few strawberries. They were a welcome treat, since we had eaten nothing since breakfast in the gnome village. Had it really only been a day? It was hard to believe, given everything that had happened in between. Josh helped me back onto the horse and climbed up after me. This time he wanted me in front of him, and the view was amazing as we sped along.  He had one powerful arm wrapped tightly around my waist and I held onto it, keeping it pulled against me as I relaxed and leant my back into his chest. I was getting sleepy, and I really wan

Allie POV I looked back up, ready to thank Skye, but she had already gone. It was as though she’d disappeared into thin air. The horse suddenly spooked and took off. Josh swore under his breath and raced after it, but quickly realised it was pointless. I unfurled my hand to reveal a smooth golden circle. It looked like a compass, but was the size of a watch face. It had no markings, directions or coordinates, just a single black arrow. When I turned in a circle, the arrow never lost its place, always pointing me in the same direction. Josh looked over my shoulder, studying the navigator. “I know what you just heard is a lot to take in, but it’s time to go home, Allie,” he said gently. “What about Mulberry?” I replied, my

Josh POV Walking away from Allie was the hardest thing I’d ever done.  ‘And the stupidest,’ mumbled Aster. He had been pacing in my mind ever since, on edge and antsy. He wasn’t happy with me at all. ‘She fucking dismissed me. Like I didn’t even matter to her. What was I supposed to do? Everyone back home thinks I’m dead. What will Mum and Dad be going through? I can’t be wandering through this fucking forest anymore, not when I have a way out right in the palm of my hand.’ ‘Go after her,’ he growled, causing a low rumble in my chest. ‘She doesn’t want me to! She made it perfectly clear. Enough!’ I blocked him from my mind and trudged on, following the direction on the

Allie POV Each breath was laboured, as though I had a weight sitting on my chest. There was a strange burning sensation in my lungs, and my throat ached painfully. I tried to move, to lift my arms, but my whole body felt weak, tired. I forced my heavy eyelids open as a surge of fear washed over me. Where was I? I looked down and saw unfamiliar clothes–some sort of nightgown. Someone had dressed me. Seen me naked. The room was empty though, I was alone for the moment. The room I was in looked nice, but so had the Obsidian King’s bedroom. I let out a whimper of fear, but with my throat feeling the way it did, it sounded strangled and pained. A familiar freckled face appeared from a doorway, and at the same time, what looked like the main door was almost ripped off its hinges as a large figure appeared. “You break it, you fix it!” Mulberry scolded Josh. He ignored her, his eyes firmly fixed on mine. She turned to me and smirked. “He’s been sleeping on the bench outside your room.

Allie POV He said he loved me. Did he mean to say that? Did it just slip out? No, he said it twice. And the way he was looking at me… had he been feeling what I’d been feeling towards him this whole time? I knew there was mutual attraction there, that was undeniable, but the shock and surprise that was registering with me as he said the word ‘love’ was a completely unique feeling. He was right. Once I had my wolf, the fairytale that I’d been clinging to in my mind would be over once and for all. I was an Alpha’s daughter, the future Alpha of the pack, and he was a guard warrior. Even without my wolf, I knew there was no way the Moon Goddess would pair us together. It was now or never. One chance to live out the fantasy I’d been dreaming of–vividly–all this time. Standing on my tiptoes, I pressed my lips to his, my arms wrapping around the back of his neck, pulling him closer to me. His mouth moved in time with mine and my whole body relaxed into his as he held me. His tongue trac